But Brown, according to Skelton, got off the best line of either debate: "Don't run for governor if you can't stand up on your own two feet and say, 'Hey, I made a mistake. ... You have blamed her, blamed me, blamed the left, blamed the unions. But you don't take accountability."

Skelton says that even if the maid debacle hurts Whitman only a little, it could be a lot in a tight race. What do you think? How much will this hurt her campaign for governor? Share your thoughts below.

Photo: Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown face off during their second debate, held Saturday in Fresno. Credit: Eric Paul Zamora / Getty Images